Derek Carr went to the saints, as first reported by ESPN, signed a four-year contract with New Orleans on Monday. The longtime Raiders quarterback took on the Jets and Panthers, two other fans, after his release from Las Vegas this offseason. But in 2023 it will move from black and silver to black and gold, alluding to newfound loyalty to the Saints after reports of his decision were made.
Who should like this step? And who is it negatively impacting? Here are our instant winners and losers:
Winner: Derek Carr
No one should celebrate this more than Carr himself. The Saints aren’t as good as the Jets or even the Panthers, but they offer a lot: cozy canopy limits, a wide-open division, decent weapons in the skill position in Alvin Kamar and Chris Olav, and, perhaps best of all, no real threat of competing in QB. In a market full of teams desperate for signal calls, Carr has joined a Saints team that has neither an existing long-term option nor the necessary draft capital to add a prospect this year. Sure, he can go from one mediocre wildcard candidate to another, but he’s managed to find quite a few job guarantees.
Loser: Potential (logical?) Saints recovery
Remember the annual joke that New Orleans operates without a salary cap. Year after year, since the days of Drew Breeze at the center, the Saints seem to be finding ways to spend money they don’t have. Signing a four-year contract with Carr is exactly their move, which gives them a chance to stay in the center, and not do a major overhaul. QB’s landscape suggests that you really are better off hitting the reset button, and yet New Orleans refuses to believe that its time has passed.
Winner: Packers
Assuming Aaron Rodgers doesn’t retire, Green Bay will now have more leverage when it comes to buying longtime QB. Why? The Jets have long been considered favorites for the A-Rod, and Carr was reportedly their next best option, even seemingly leaning towards signing with New York in recent days. Now that he’s in New Orleans, the Jets have few options if they’re determined to add an experienced player to the starting lineup. They would certainly pay for Rogers rather than expect, say, Jimmy Garoppolo to stay healthy.
Loser: Raiders
Not because Las Vegas made the mistake of leaving Carr, but because the divorce came too late. In fact, the Raiders should be commended for their willingness to end relationships in search of a better long-term response, even if that response doesn’t come in 2023. But the reality is that they probably should have done it a year ago, before the exchange. two premium picks for Carr’s friend Davante Adams and then Carr’s renewal due to commitments. After waiting a year and reducing Carr’s value due to a lackluster pairing with Josh McDaniels, the Raiders got literally nothing in return for their Pro Bowl starter.
Winner: Dennis Allen
After a mediocre debut as Sean Payton’s successor, the Saints coach should be in high spirits and, like Carr, confident enough in his job security. First, Allen has developed a relationship with Carr since they were on the Raiders together; the former was Carr’s first head coach in the NFL. Secondly, only Allen’s defense somehow kept New Orleans on the list of the best players at the end of 2022. While not necessarily a major upgrade of Andy Dalton, Carr does have a higher ceiling. The fact that he received a four-year contract from the team’s management suggests that New Orleans, again, is not very interested in rebuilding, which means that Allen will not immediately be saddled with the care of a completely renewed lineup.
Source: www.cbssports.com
